Naturopathy Medicine
General Naturopathic Care
What is General Naturopathic Care?
How Does It Work?
The goal of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person- mind, body, and spirit. It also aims to heal the root causes of an illness — not just stop the symptoms. A naturopathic doctor may spend 1 to 2 hours examining you. They’ll ask about your health history, stress levels, and lifestyle habits. They may order lab tests.
Afterward, they will typically discuss your health plan. Naturopathic medicine focuses on education and prevention, so your doctor may give you diet, exercise, or stress management tips. They might use complementary medicine like homeopathy, herbal medicine, and acupuncture in addition to naturopathic treatments. They may also use touch, such as massage and pressure, to create balance in your body. This is called naturopathic manipulative therapy.
What are the benefits of naturopathic care?
Naturopaths work more personally, spending more time covering individual needs. They create treatment plans that consider all aspects of a person.
Naturopathy can be helpful alongside modern medicine, and many say these methods allow the body to activate self-healing mechanisms.
- Naturopathic healthcare can also be a cheaper
- Trusted Source
- Alternative to conventional healthcare.
Is Naturopathic Medicine safe & effective?
The science and art of Naturopathic Medicine has stood the test of time, existing in its many forms for centuries. Scientific advances have allowed our society to access the best that nature has, enhanced with technology. More than ever, increasing studies validating naturopathic treatments only highlight the decades of its clinical effectiveness.
The primary Canadian naturopathic medical school, the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) and other institutions are publishing extensive research about this in renown peer-reviewed scientific journals. The key principles of naturopathic medicine determine its safety and cost-effectiveness. The philosophy to “first do no harm” is reflective in the natural therapies that are strong enough to effect change with minimal to no side effects.
What types of conditions do naturopathic doctors treat?
- Acute conditions, such as colds and the flu, ear and throat infections, headaches, seasonal allergies, and intestinal upset
- Chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune conditions, hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart problems, eczema, psoriasis, acne, digestion, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, and environmental illnesses, cystitis, prostatitis, impotence, and Cancer (prevention, minimize side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation, reduce recovery time, support the immune system)
- Women’s health issues, such as infertility, PMS, menstrual disorders, menopausal symptoms, fibrocystic breast disease, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and enhancing health in pregnancy
- Other issues, such as mental or emotional stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and attention deficit disorder
What can I expect when I visit a naturopathic doctor?
Your initial naturopathic visit is approximately 60-75 minutes long and is used for a detailed health history review, discussion of your present health concerns, health goals, and relevant physical examination. Lab testing may be recommended to aid in assessment and diagnosis, and preliminary treatments are outlined.
In the second visit, a comprehensive individualized treatment plan is discussed.
Follow-up visits are between 30 and 45 minutes long and are used to implement appropriate naturopathic treatment modalities, monitor progress, and re-assess the treatment plan.
